Effects of using different protein levels on freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii pond production

摘要

Recent freshewater prawn research at the Coastal Aquaculture Unit (CAU, Mississippi State University) in Gulfport, Mississippi, USA (http://www.msstate.edu/dept/crec/crec.html), has been focused on developing economically viable pond production systems. Farmer willingness to grow freshwater prawns depends on the relative economic viability of the shrimp enterprise. At this stage of its development, yield-enhancing and costreducing technological innovations would improve the economic viability of this emerging industry. One such approach is to develop feed and feeding systems that would enhance yield and reduce feed costs. Daniels et al. (1995) compared two commercially pelleted diets, a 32 percent protein sinking catfish feed and a specially formulated 34 percent protein prawn diet in 0.04-0.07 ha ponds in Starkville, Mississippi stocked with 39,540-79,100 juveniles/ha. Tidwell et al. (2001) also evaluated the effects of a more nutrient dense penaeid diet on freshwater shrimp production in Frankfort, Kentucky.